Customers of power distribution firms are displeased with their attempts to reclaim prepaid metres for an update.
Through its Facebook page, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company recently informed its clients that it will start collecting a set of prepaid metres for updating.
The Disco’s brochure began, “Dear respected customers. Please be aware that we will be collecting prepaid metres with metre numbers 62417 and 62418 from our clients as part of the ongoing metre upgrading.a few metres no, beginning with 6321…This gives us the ability to upgrade.
“Our field personnel will go to the locations of the impacted consumers to gather the metres.”
The company added that old tokens wouldn’t be removed from the metres during the upgrading process and that the metre will be returned after it was finished.
Customers, however, did not appreciate the information.
One Olatinwo Multimedia, a Disco client, suggested that codes be given out instead.
“That is absurd. If you want to update the metre codes, you need offer a link. Removing already-installed prepaid metres is utterly absurd and unachievable. He asked, “Who does that?
Olaanipekun Henrym, a different consumer, cautioned IBEDC employees “not to approach near” his residence.
Nobody should approach my home because you folks are unreliable. Nobody will take my number, 62418, away for an upgrade, though. I’m aware that any attempt to take it away won’t result in its return within a year,” he remarked.
Akinyemi Tayo claimed that it was impossible to trust the Disco.
“Walahi, by raising the tariff so that it may finish on schedule, you people want to loot us once more. This behaviour is evil. God would soon put an end to it, he declared.
According to those with direct knowledge of the situation, other Discos may take similar steps to upgrade problematic metres.
I stated it. IBEDC cannot automatically upgrade. Can you picture using a manual system while praying that thieves won’t take advantage of you? asked one Oni Kunle.
The Disco was “taking their consumers for idiots, abi,” observed Muraina Akeem Olatunji.
Adewusi Ayodele added a twist to the discussion when he claimed that despite upgrading his metre using a code provided by the disco, he was still given a lower token following a new recharge.
“Hello, IBEDC. I recharged my phone for N6,000, but I only received a token worth 43.04 units. With these new tariffs/charges, I am perplexed. Please elaborate,” he asked.
If clients let the Disco take the metre away, Rasaq Adebayo expressed concern that it might not be restored until six months have passed.
Adebusolami Tunwase, a spokesman for IBEDC, informed The TheNigerian that clients whose metres would be collected will be switched to post-paid metres during the time.
“The details are plain to see. The affected metre series are listed, and it is to upgrade the software of metres that are rejecting upgrade codes.
“They will be installed with post-paid metres, which for that time period need payment of a bill. The metres will be given back as soon as the upgrading is finished. And, as you’re aware, the renovation will last until November,” she added.
Sunday Oduntan, a representative for the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, denounced the planned retrieval and called it “absurd.”
In the meantime, queries about the recovery of some metres received no responses from the corporate communications department of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Babatunde Lasaki of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Bala Sani of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, or Babatunde Lasaki of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
Sesan Okunade, a metering specialist, said to TheNigerian that the update supplied by IBEDC was a result of changes mandated by the STS compliance metre in the power sector.
“The TID rollover is what this suggests. By the 24th of November 2024, all of our STS-compliant smart metres are anticipated to roll over to zero, which means that if you do not upgrade, they might no longer function.
“Normally, each Disco is required to produce a key change token for each customer when they are making purchases, but I’m confident that this class of metres with these precise numbers is exclusive to a specific metre supplier, which is experiencing a problem. They could have to complete it offline and perhaps bring them to their offices.
“If other discos have used this supplier before, they might do the same. Because there were so many various types of metres on the market when those metres were bought, the Discos themselves were unaware. They learned about it, say, at the end of last year. In order to upgrade offline, the metre supplier must have issued upgrade codes, he said.
Chijioke James, president of the Nigerian Electricity Consumers Association, declined to provide a specific response to questions from TheNigerian.
I can only answer after consulting with colleagues on the ground because I am still outside the country, he said.
Usman Arabi, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, stated that the Commission would keep watching to make sure that the Discos’ operations benefit both the electricity market and the consumers.
